628
R. Pangestuti et al.
Compared to higher multicellular plants, microalgae growth are very fast and
have much higher productivity, no seasonal variety, and it is easier to extract the
compounds. Its simple structure and function, makes microalgae a suitable model for
research purpose than any other terrestrial plants (Pulz and Gross 2004). As a photosynthetic organism, microalgae have a much more efficient utilization of sunlight
energy to produce valuable compounds, compared to higher terrestrial plants. Unlike
plants, microalgae can be easily cultivated in wastewater. Nutrients in wastewater can
be absorbed by microalgae as their nutrient, with only sunlight and CO 2 , microalgae
can convert phosphate and nitrogen to biomass. This means, microalgae have dual
role when cultivated in polluted water, as a wastewater treatment and to produce
biomass (Rawat et al. 2011; Wang et al. 2015).
With the developments of advanced technology in biomass culture, and pigment
extraction techniques, the opportunity in utilization of microalgae pigments is widely
open. Several pigments products from microalgae are valuably used, such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, and phycocyanin. Microalgae culture not only
produces pigments itself but also a wide range of metabolites and compounds such as
lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The residual substances also
can be used as fibers source or silica raw material. More efficient cultured technologies with addition of molecular engineering, lead microalgae to be a valuable future
source of bioproducts. This combined with their capacity as cultured product, can be
considered that microalgae are a renewable resource that has a high economic potential. Microalgal pigment-based cosmetics have high potential demand, especially
when combined with antioxidant or other bioactive compounds and by product development to protect skin from UV radiation. A study of how these active compounds
work has high potential commercially.
25.6 Conclusions
Natural cosmetics that incorporate microalgal extracts and compounds are being
increasingly sought after in the industry, with more and more consumers demanding
cosmetic products that are of natural origin. Microalgal pigment also showed biological activities and potential to be applied in cosmetics as well as cosmeceuticals.
However, stability of microalgal pigments is still a significant challenge up to now.
In addition, adequate clinical trials are needed in the development of cosmetics
derived from microalgal pigments. More importantly, once their biological activities are demonstrated, new aspects need to be addressed before commercialization;
these include integration and co-optimization of microalgal culture and downstream
processes.
Acknowledgments This study is supported by Thematic Research Program Research Center for
Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
R. Pangestuti et al.
Compared to higher multicellular plants, microalgae growth are very fast and
have much higher productivity, no seasonal variety, and it is easier to extract the
compounds. Its simple structure and function, makes microalgae a suitable model for
research purpose than any other terrestrial plants (Pulz and Gross 2004). As a photosynthetic organism, microalgae have a much more efficient utilization of sunlight
energy to produce valuable compounds, compared to higher terrestrial plants. Unlike
plants, microalgae can be easily cultivated in wastewater. Nutrients in wastewater can
be absorbed by microalgae as their nutrient, with only sunlight and CO 2 , microalgae
can convert phosphate and nitrogen to biomass. This means, microalgae have dual
role when cultivated in polluted water, as a wastewater treatment and to produce
biomass (Rawat et al. 2011; Wang et al. 2015).
With the developments of advanced technology in biomass culture, and pigment
extraction techniques, the opportunity in utilization of microalgae pigments is widely
open. Several pigments products from microalgae are valuably used, such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, and phycocyanin. Microalgae culture not only
produces pigments itself but also a wide range of metabolites and compounds such as
lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The residual substances also
can be used as fibers source or silica raw material. More efficient cultured technologies with addition of molecular engineering, lead microalgae to be a valuable future
source of bioproducts. This combined with their capacity as cultured product, can be
considered that microalgae are a renewable resource that has a high economic potential. Microalgal pigment-based cosmetics have high potential demand, especially
when combined with antioxidant or other bioactive compounds and by product development to protect skin from UV radiation. A study of how these active compounds
work has high potential commercially.
25.6 Conclusions
Natural cosmetics that incorporate microalgal extracts and compounds are being
increasingly sought after in the industry, with more and more consumers demanding
cosmetic products that are of natural origin. Microalgal pigment also showed biological activities and potential to be applied in cosmetics as well as cosmeceuticals.
However, stability of microalgal pigments is still a significant challenge up to now.
In addition, adequate clinical trials are needed in the development of cosmetics
derived from microalgal pigments. More importantly, once their biological activities are demonstrated, new aspects need to be addressed before commercialization;
these include integration and co-optimization of microalgal culture and downstream
processes.
Acknowledgments This study is supported by Thematic Research Program Research Center for
Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences.